Filing cabinet



May 25, 1937 A. vANDERHooF 2,081,470 v FILING CABINET Fi-led Aug. 18, 1934 L AWQENCEA. VANDER/@0F Patented May 25, 1937 FILING CABINET Applieation August 18, 1934, Serial No. 740,460

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a filing cabinet and more particularly to a follower for drawers or compartments used for the purpose of holding cards, files of papers, etc., in the drawer or compartment in a substantially vertical position.

Prior to this invention, drawers have been provided with followers, for the purpose of supporting files of papers. Each follower was arranged with some means by which to lock it in vany position longitudinally of the drawer for the purpose of supporting a variable number of cards, les of papers, etc. In practically every instance the drawer follower, being of sheet metal and requiring a comparatively smooth surface against which the rearmost papers rested, have had the means for locking the follower located to the rear thereof, and since this locking means included a number of parts it projected one to two inches to the rear of the face of the follower. Thus as the drawer became filled with papers, the locking means prevented removal of the follower to the extreme rear of the drawer, wasting a space equivalent to the rearward depth of the locking means. While it is evident that a slight increase or decreasey of a single drawer capacity to the extent of an inch is ordinarily not material, an inch loss of filing space per drawer in an ofiice that requires many four-drawer les, may be the equivalent to one or more additional files.

it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a drawer follower which is normally held in fixed position from which it can be quickly and easily released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawer follower of very little depth with no rearwardly projecting parts which would prevent full use of the drawer for filing purposes.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of locking means for a follower which positively engages the drawer to prevent undesired movement in one direction.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specication taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a file drawer with a follower embodying one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken transversely of the follower shown in Figure l, parts being broken away to show the locking mechanism and the release therefor;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the follower (Cl. 12S-30) including the locking mechanism and its release;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing one of the follower guide shoes without the locking mechanism mounted therein;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the follower taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a View in elevation of the releasing lever for the locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown mounted in a drawer generally indicated by the reference numeral IB. The drawer ini cludes the usual front II, rear I2, and side walls I3. It is not uncommon practice to rigidify the side walls I3 by providing longitudinally extending channels I4 therein. In the present showing each channel is formed with a base wall IB directed outwardly from the inner face of the side I3 and includes a flange El which partially closes the inwardly opening recess I8 formed by the channel I4.

The follower 2U comprises a plate 2l having a comparatively unbroken surface for contact with the file contents of the drawer. The upper edge of this plate is rearwardly rolled at 22. Somewhat above the horizontal center, the plate 2l is formed with a rearwardly projecting channel 24. In the upper wall 25 of the channel 24 is a slot 26. A strap 28, mounted in the recess 29 formed by the channel 24, is secured to the base wall of said channel by means of a bolt 30. The strap projects upwardly through the opening 2t and serves as a guide for a releasing lever 32.

The lever 32 is formed with a rolled finger grip 33 along the upper edge and a horizontal flange 34 along the lower edge. Projecting laterally in opposite directions and either integral or attached to said lever 32 are plates 36, the ends of which terminate in downwardly directed arms 3l. The arms 3'! project slightly beyond the vertical edges of the plate 2| and are each provided with a laterally directed lug 39. When the follower is in place in the drawer the lug 39 lies within the recess I8. It will also be noted that the recess 29 of the channel 24 is in horizontal alignment with the recess I8.

Attached to the plate 2| are guide shoes 4I. These shoes each comprise flanges 42 and 43. The flange 43 is mounted within and adjacent the end of the recess 29, being provided with a forwardly offset portion 44 by which to clear the arm 31. An opening is made in the rear wall of the recess 29 and the flange 43, a bolt 46 securing these elements together. The flange 42 is at right angles to flange 43 and is provided with an upper edge portion 41 which is notched to provide a pair of slots 48 spaced by a lug 49. The flange 42 is located in the channel I6 of the drawer and forms with said channel a substantially closed compartment in which the friction locking elements are located and concealed from view. The width of the portion 41 defines the width of the closed compartment between the flange 42 and the base wall of the channel I6.

A plate 5I is mounted against one face of the flange 42. This plate includes a notched portion 52 which engages the lug 49. Opposite the portion 52 is a lug 53 which projects into a corre:- spondingly shaped recess 54 in a further plate 55. This further plate is provided along its lower edge with saw-tooth serrations 5l. Forming part of the plate 5I is an arm 58 which extends slightly beyond one end of the flange 42 and in which is provided an opening 59. The lug 39, forming part of the lever 32, projects into the opening 59 and serves to actuate plates 5! and 55.

It is desirable to cause the mechanism of the follower to be normally frictionally engaged, substantially as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, with the channel I6 of the drawer. This is accomplished by providing one or more springs 60 which are secured to the plate 2l and the arm 3l'. Downward pull of the spring S9 causes the lever 32 to be normally depressed. With the lug 39 in this position, the plate 5I has been rotated about the lug 49 to move the teeth 5l of the plate 55 into pressure Contact with the lower iiange of the channel I6. To release the friotional engagement of the follower with the drawer, the lever 32 is raised to the dotted line position of Figure 2. This movement raises plates 36, arms 3l, and lugs 39, causing the arm 58 of plate 5I to swing upwardly into horizontal position, thus rotating the lug 53 to relieve the downward pressure of the teeth 5'I of the plate 55.

By reason of the fact that the plates 5I and l55 are enclosed between the guide shoe flange 42 and the channel I6 and securing means for the shoes 4I is within the recess 29, no projecting surfaces appear on the inner face of the follower. It is also to be noted that the rearmost projection of the follower and its mechanism are the ends of bolts 45. The follower depth is therefore limited to one half inch, as shown in Figure 2, which is a full scale representation.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of friction securing means projecting into the side channels of a drawer and operable by a further mechanism having extremely little depth, it will be understood that modifications or adaptations of this structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the here:- unto annexed claims.

I-Iaving thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein; of a follower, a guide shoe on said follower projecting into and freely movable along said channel, means on and movable relative to said shoe, said means being frictionally engaged with said channel, a lever on said follower, further means connecting said lever with said means, said lever being operable to release said means from frictional engagement with said channel.

2. 'Ihe combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein; of a follower, a guide shoe on said follower projecting into said channel, said channel and said shoe together forming a compartment, a catch plate in said compartment, a

lever on said follower, a pivotal plate connected with said lever, said pivotal plate being engaged with and normally holding said catch plate in frctional engagement with said channel through connection with said lever. y

3. The combination with a. drawer having a guide channel therein; of a follower, a guide shoe on said follower projecting into said channel, said channel and said shoe together forming a compartment, a vertically movable lever on said follower, means in said compartment frictionally engaged with said guide channel, said means being connected with said lever and operable thereby to release said frictional engagement.

4. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel in one side wall thereof; of a follower comprising a transversely channeled plate, a guide shoe projecting into the follower channel and secured thereto, said shoe having an angularly disposed flange projecting into said drawer channel and forming therewith a compartment, a vertically movable lever on said follower, said lever being within the depth limits of said follower, means in said compartment frictionally engaged with said guide channel, said means being connected with and operable by said lever to release said follower and permit adjustment thereof longitudinally of said drawer.

5. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel in one side wall thereof; of a foln lower comprising a transversely channeled plate, a guide shoe projecting into and secured to the follower channel, a flange on said shoe projecting into said guide channel, a pair of cooperative plates on said shoe, one of said plates having serrations engageable with said guide channel, a vertically movable lever, means yieldingly holding said lever in one position, said lever being engaged with the other of said plates and actuable to move said plates to release engagement of said serrations with said guide channel.

6. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel in one side wall; of a follower, a guide shoe secured to and directed forwardly of one edge of said follower, said shoe projecting into said channel and serving to support said follower for movement longitudinally of said drawer, means on said shoe forwardly of said follower frictionally engaged with said channel, and further means located within the depth limits of said follower, said further means being connected with and actuable to disengage said means from said guide channel.

7. The combination with a drawer having guide channels in the side walls; of a follower, a pair of guide shoes secured to and directed forwardly of the vertical edges of said follower, said shoes projecting into said channels and serving to support said follower for movement longitudinally of said drawer, means on said shoes frictionally engaged with said guide channels, a lever on said follower operatively connected with said shoe means, said lever being located and reciprocal within the depth limits of said follower.

LAWRENCE A. VANDERHOOF. 

